Gujarat’s rivers are degenerating

TNN | Updated: Dec 6, 2018, 5:04 IST

Sabarmati river in Ahmedabad.

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat rivers are decaying and if the trend is not reversed, we will lose these lifelines forever. On September 20, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had directed Gujarat to take immediate note of the deteriorating condition of 20 rivers, of which five were classified under priority 1. Under this category, the rivers had some of the highest values of biological oxygen demand (BOD), which measures the amount of decaying organic matter in our rivers. The NGT order says that river water is considered to be fit for bathing when it meets the criterion of bearing a BOD value of less than 3 milligram per litre (mg/L). Bhadar river in Rajkot, between Jetpur and Saran villages, with the BOD level of 426 mg/L, is the third most polluted stretch in the country. The Khari river between Lali and Kashipura villages with the BOD level of 235 mg/L is the sixth worst polluted stretch. Other rivers like Bhogavo between Surendranagar and Nana Kerala registered the BOD value of 67 mg/L. While in South Gujarat, Amlakhadi stream between Pungum and Bharuch city recorded BOD levels between 40 mg/L and 45 mg/L.

The NGT order served to Gujarat and other states says, “Tough governance is the need of the hour. If pollution does not stop, the industry has to be stopped. If sewage dumping does not stop, locals have to be made accountable and their heads are to be prosecuted. Steps have to be taken for awareness and public involvement.” The NGT has directed the state to devise plans to target the enhancement of river flow through interventions on the water catchment areas for the conservation and recharge of rain water for subsequent releases during lean-flow periods. “This concept will work on dilution of pollutants in the rivers and streams to reduce concentration to meet the desired level of water quality,” the NGT order noted.

Other concepts listed by the NGT include regulation and enforcement of standards in conjunction with the available flow in rivers or streams and the allocation of discharges with stipulated norms. The NGT order said, “In spite of directions to install effluent treatment plants, common effluent treatment plants, sewage treatment plants, and adopting other anti-pollution measures, satisfactory situation has not been achieved.”